Hemmings Find of the Day – 1970 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale

This 1970 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale is not what one would expect from an Oldsmobile of the era. Let’s start with that rather spry blue paint instead of some dull earth-tone brown or green. Very attractive. Then there’s the 455 under the hood with (if we’re reading this right) 390 horsepower and 500-lbs.ft. of torque. To top it all off, from the photos it looks like it’s been treated to the same level of restoration one would lavish on a 4-4-2 or other A-body. From the seller’s description:

Near mint, super rare equipped with high compression 455 L-31, 4-barrel, ’70 OB-code Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 transmission, Strato bucket seats & sports console, a/c, ps, power disc brakes, AM radio, 8-track, clock, convenience group, anti-spin rear axle, astro blue color #25, Protect-o-plate, broadcast card. Condition is near mint driven regularly in good weather only – no rust – very high quality paint, body was stripped completely, most of the chrome and stainless has been restored to new. Underside is very clean, engine compartment is nicely & correctly detailed. Suspension has been upgraded with Eaton springs, KYB gas shocks, sway bars, poly graphite bushings, ball joints, tie rod ends, close ratio steering, etc.. Complete a/c has been replaced, new compressor, drier, Classic Air POA valve, auxiliary fan, heavy duty new radiator, etc. A/C cools properly. Transmission professionally rebuilt and shifts perfectly, motor runs terrific, new exhaust is stock A pleasure to drive and reliable for long trips. 4-owner car with complete history since new. Very high quality car that has been completely sorted. Every component and light works correctly. New modern under dash stereo with MP3. Over $25,000 invested. You will never see another like this and I’m sure I will regret selling. 92K original miles. All original drivetrain including E-heads.

autobug2says:

May 7, 2012 9:06 am

This car is a REAL find for any Olds nut. I know a guy in IL. with a gold `70 coupe with same engine pkg. It’s actually a ‘police pursuit’ pkg. on the 88s that year, and not many left the factory in this guise. As large as a `70 Olds 88 is, IT WOULD HAUL. PERIOD. I rode shotgun in that coupe and can tell you, VERY few cars of the same size could keep up with that 455. It tossed me in the back seat!

TAUsays:

June 20, 2013 1:13 pm

Larry Huffmansays:

May 7, 2012 9:31 am

Great cars. And the color is not that surprising. Automakers still had pleasing colors instead of the “bleah” stuff they use now. What some folks don’t realize is that GM of that day actually had three separate 455 engines. Buick, Pontiac and Olds all had one and each was different.

Scotty Gsays:

May 7, 2012 11:21 am

Mr Huffman, I agree with you on colors. I mean, actual color-colors, not the “tones” most folks buy these days (white, black, silver). That’s why I love older vehicles so much, or, one of the reasons. They all had such great colors.

Scotty Gsays:

May 7, 2012 9:54 am

Oh man, I never knew they made such a package on an 88! My dad had a 1970 98 sedan in green and it’s the car I lust after more than any. We had it stored on our wooded 2 acres until they passed an ordinance where folks couldn’t have any unlicensed vehicles on their properties and we had to get rid of everything. That was a mistake, we should have paid for the license tabs, but in the early-80’s.. as a 20-year old, I didn’t have the money.

The 455 in that thing was SO smooth and quiet and powerful. I beat so many supposed muscle cars as a kid driving that car. I bet this beautiful 88 is even faster than the ol’ 98 was.

Andrew Frankssays:

May 7, 2012 11:27 am

Fred Shaffersays:

May 7, 2012 11:48 am

Re. “…it’s been treated to the same level of restoration one would lavish on a 442 or other A-body.”
I must confess, I have always preferred big cars and I just don’t “get” the A-body/muscle car/sports car thing. My first car was a ’69 very much like this, and I would echo the earlier comments here about the power of such a beast. To me, there is NOTHING like a big Olds. Nothing. (I do like 442’s, but much more because they are Oldmobiles than because they are muscle cars, and can’t see owning one over an 88 or 98.) I now have a ’76 Delta 88 Royale Town Sedan, with the Rocket 455. With the emission controls it doesn’t yield the power numbers of the earlier cars, of course (although it does handle better, and has much better brakes, than my ’69 did). But with 350 ft-lbs of torque at @2000 rpm and a performance axle ratio (originally for trailer towing), it still has pretty good get-up-and-go. Mid-range acceleration is especially effortless, much better than my modern cars. It’s a good original car in need of minor body repair and new paint, and the cost of that basically will be money down the drain, in terms of any prospect of recovering it on (eventual) resale, whether in 5 years or 30. Oh, well — it will just have to be for my own enjoyment. I really don’t see why these cars are not much more popular than they are. There’s just no accounting for some people’s taste…

Kevinsays:

May 7, 2012 2:21 pm

Dansays:

May 7, 2012 1:23 pm

There is nothing in the ad that states that this has the B07 police apprehender option, so it is my guess that it is a 365 hp version of the 455 4bbl offered that year. The air cleaner has the decal for std. 455, otherwise it would say, if I remember correctly “Police Apprehender” on the air cleaner lid, though I’m sure that is not the original sticker on that restored car. It is nice to see one in a color that stands out a bit, very well done. Reminds me of my ’68 Delta Custom that I had in 1975/1976, loaded with options, and loaded for bear!

TAUsays:

December 27, 2013 3:37 pm

Incorrect….W33 was an optional hi-po package available on ’70 88’s. Among other H.D. spec.’s, it included the L32 390-horse 455. The ad states this is an L31. Option B07 was the Hwy. Ptl. Police Apprehender pkg., including the M41(O-L tagged) trans.

perry kioussissays:

August 27, 2016 1:14 pm

Hi Kurt, I posted here a while back, Im curious do you know if one can indentify a 1969 Delta 88 Royal with a W33 package by the data plate or the vin. Perhaps these were built in a specific plant then maybe at least that would narrow it down. Any info would be helpful, thanks

Greg B.says:

May 7, 2012 6:14 pm

Later comments correctly ID the engine. Still a strong beast but not the top version found in the Toronado GT or Police Interceptors.

Regarding the color: in the spring of 1970 the local Olds dealer advertised a new 1970 Delta 88 coupe in the local paper at what seemed like a really good price. I convinced my parents to go look at it and it was in this very color, but of course with the cloth-upholstered bench seat interior, also in blue, and minimal options – PS, PB, automatic trans and an AM radio were about all. I still remember that car just because it looked so good. I have always been partial to the looks of the 1970 Deltas. Wish they had bought it.

Bryan Gsays:

May 7, 2012 11:10 pm

My grandfather had a friend with a 4 dr in this color, he was quite proud of it. He probably would have bought a Chevy but his was a demonstrator and the deal was right. Sadly, the car and owner rusted to death about the same time!

Packratdavesays:

May 8, 2012 6:00 am

It is good to see interest in the big cars. Years ago people only wanted them for the big engines, to put in smaller cars. I would like this car on a long trip, they always had a great ride. The buckets have to be pretty rare, I am guessing most folks that bought these new wanted seating for 6. Today to get 6 people in a vehicle requires a van or big SUV.

tonyolasays:

May 8, 2012 7:52 am

A big and handsome brute. The 1970 Olds full-line prestige brochure lists a total of 12 available engine variations. Eight of them were 455s and as for the biggies, only the base Delta 88 could be had with anything smaller (a two-barrel 350), Ah, the future seemed so limitless then…

This car also seems to have the infamous “rim-blow” steering wheels where the horn was sounded by squeezing the rim. That feature seemed to have peaked in the early ’70s throughout Detroit then quickly faded. Nice in theory but the contacts got flaky as the cars aged so the horn either honked at the slightest touch or didn’t sound at all.

Billysays:

September 22, 2012 11:29 pm

My dad ordered a 1970 Delta 88 & he told the salesman@ he wanted to pull a boat. He ordered a W-33 ( 455cu in 390hp500 ft lbs tq) with the B09 (police package) The air breather cover said Oldsmobile Highway Patrol on it. The 442 455 was 365 hp so the delta police package had 25 more hp. I see you have single exhaust on it. His had dual exhaust on it. That 455 only got 13 mpg of premuim gas. Got to tell you that thing would hit 120 mph in 14 seconds.It would hit 120 mph pulling the 18 ft boat in 25 seconds, but only did that once. Wish I has $25,000 I would buy it. Lost my legs and in the nursing home at the age of 55. Great car see ya

Perry Kioussissays:

November 25, 2012 4:49 pm

Hey people, in the summer of 1978 I bought a 2 door silver with black top black interior 1969 W-33 Delta 88 Royal, I started working at a service station as an apprentice mechanic when this Delta pulled up for fuel. The owners son knew I was looking for a car so he encouraged me to buy this boat and knowing this car he tells me it’s really fast and to come on out and have a look. Well I wanted a camaro or something so I wasnt very impressed. Walking up to it I noticed it had dual exhaust with 2 1/2 inch pipes. Hum I thought and popped the hood, the air cleaner lid was red as the engine and had a decal that wrote Oldsmobile Highway Patrol. Now I was really curious so asked the owner if I could test drive it. I went around the block burning rubber all the way and arrived at the station with a ear to ear smile.

After buying this car for only 250 $, one night on the highway I had this car up to 145 mph and it was still pulling strong but I remember the rear tires had cord showing on both sides and let off on the peddle before blowing the back end off and killing myself. I’m certaint this car was easy headed for 160+ mph judging by the acceleration and rpm still left.

It had 2.91 posi with L size tires those days. This car had the cop package known as the B09 or B07 option I forget which is correct.

It comes in 69 with a 455ci with C heads and the auto W30 cam, calibrated 4bbl and HD cooling and charging sys HD suspension and larger rear brakes, dual exhaust 2.5 inch with HD TH400 with a switch pich or variable pich as it can be called torq converter giving 1800/ 2600 rpm stall speed with 2. 91 gears non posi as standard equip. 390 Hp 500 lbs tq. At 4200 lbs I could run the 1/4 mile at 14.50 @ 98 mph but this Delta was at home on the highway, nothing could out accelerate me here, nothing ever did and a lot of powerfull cars in those days tried and died.

This car was really incredible for its day and I’m always looking for the right one now to buy,
Hope you all enjoyed my story as much as I the W-33

Delta was equipped with G-60-15 Dunlop Qualifier GTs and Air-Lift bags in rear coils to combat traction control problems.

At Cayuga drag strip car was capable of low to mid-14 second quarter mile times at 97-100 mph. Perhaps a true 140 mph at 5200-5400 rpms.

I love it when I hear those 160 mph top end charges and 14-sec 120 mph blasts from stockers. Faster than your good running 427 Camaro, Hemi anything, Ram Air GTO, Buick GS355 Stage 1, and Olds 442 W-30. WOW!

Perhaps those five original 455 owners of real true stock W-33 Delta and W-34 Toronados just had poor running lemons from the factory. It happens! LOL!

Terrysays:

January 16, 2013 2:35 am

BTW, that modified W-33 Delta ran through the mufflers with all accessories operating.

Gearing was later changed to 3.42.1 for street kicks. Heads were given multi-angle valve job, with mild intake port gasket matching from intake to heads. Car was alot quicker with lower gearing but lost some top end.

At the time, my 1970 Buick 455 GS Stage 1 was a little faster than buddies modified W-33. Only mods to GS were headers and good 2-1/2” exhausts. GS was good for about 135 mph. My lightly modified 1998 Buick Regal GS is quicker and faster than my 1970.

Perrysays:

May 10, 2013 11:35 pm

Terry my delta did everything I stated in my post in stock condition with 45000 original miles. When I added an 850 Holley, torker intake, free flow cold air induction dual snorkel Electronic Ignition, modified the rocker arms and studs for fully adjustable rockers, free flowing mufflers, posi, shift kit and fatter rears, I ran a best of 13.93 @ 103. My car had the variable pitch converter and 2.5 inch pipes and no factory cold air duct. Seems your uncles and his buddy’s cars didn’t perform as well. Maybe they had a dud or just poor track practices and skills.

terrysays:

May 11, 2013 1:10 pm

Variable pitch converter and 2.5 inch pipes? In 1969? 145 mph? Lots more top end? Wow! Perhaps, you had a factory ringer….as for poor driving ability? Who can really say? Regardless, I still like the Olds W-cars, and the Rallye 350 Cutlass.

Tomsays:

May 10, 2013 5:02 pm

@ Terry….
I owned ’69 Delta 88 Custom Town Sedan that had a COMPLETE ’70 B07 Apprehender drive train & suspension in it. When you checked the B09 option, Y72 (H.D. cooling) & the 2.94-only(not 2.91) rear axle were mandatory. My late friend Gary drove but I have the timing slip from Great Lakes Dragway in Union Grove, Wisc. indicating a 14.8 ET @ 97.8mph. This W33 shifted into “D” right @ the finish line.

terrysays:

May 11, 2013 12:14 am

None of the W-33’s I mentioned were police option packages. They may have used 2.94.1 gearing, rather than 2.91.1 but that would make no difference in actual performance anyway. My uncle’s car was a non-posi unit. It may have been possible that a few W-33 powered cars dipped into the high 14’s but none of them that I encountered done so. Not OEM factory tuned and equipped anyway. Very low 15’s were my experience. IMHO, the W-33 option never actually made 390 gross horsepower. Maybe 350-360. In today’s real-world net ratings, I would say maybe 275 horsepower. If you can prove otherwise, show me the documentation, and I will salute you. LOL!

Dansays:

May 11, 2013 4:59 pm

I find it odd that you would challenge Tom’s info, as he has a timing slip to back up what he claims, and you knock the hp ratings down with out any proof that they were lower in an era when all of the manufacturers underestimated the hp of their vehicles. I would also imagine that he had an idea of how to tune their car to perform better at the track. To say that they all ran the times to what you claim is arrogant.

terrysays:

May 13, 2013 8:32 pm

Dan, please re-read what I posted concerning Tom and his W-33.

Quote
…It may have been possible that a few W-33 powered cars dipped into the high 14′s but none of them that I encountered done so. Not OEM factory tuned and equipped anyway. Very low 15′s were my experience.

Unquote

I acknowledged the fact that it may have been possible to go 14’s although that wasn’t the experience of any of my family or friends in their cars. I have also stated several times now that a tuned car is certainly capable of getting into the 14’s.

As for my hypothesis on net and gross horsepower of the W-33, I will point out that it was basically a 1970 type 455 automatic 4-4-2 engine package. Or, looking at it another way it was virtually the same engine as the 1968-69 Hurst-Olds. Yes, the W-33 was available since 1968, but these three engines were essentially the same spec. There was / is some controversy as to the exact camshaft specifications that came installed from the factory. I have in my possession three different original W-33 / W-34 road tests of the era and the camshaft specs vary according to source. None were rated as being the 400-455 W-30 manual stick cams with the 308 or the 328 degree durations.

Two cam specs were quoted as being:
258-272 degree duration and .435 lift
285-287 degree duration and .472 lift
There is mention of a third cam with 286 degree and .472 lift that was installed in the early 400’s, but, I am not certain of that being correct.
Here is what I believe based upon actual experience of tearing down my uncle’s 1970 W-33 in 1975. When the camshaft was measured because of this very controversy it was discovered that the 1970 version was difinetly the 285-287 degree base model 4-4-2 automatic camshaft. It used .472 lift.
Out of interest, one might want to peruse the article of the then new 425-375 horsepower Olds buildup in the July 1965 issue of Hot Rod Magazine. In completely stock unmodified form, the engine made only 305 horsepower. Basic model 425 and 455’s are in fact, very similar in spec to the W-33 455-390 save for the difference in crankshaft stroke, camshaft, calibrated carb, OAI (cold air induction) and slightly different heads. Factor in those pieces and you might obtain another 40-50 maximum horsepower and I would say that that is being generous. Here is my horsepower estimates below based upon common sense, dyno measurement, and real-world testing.

Add these subjective calculations up and you get a grand total of 360 gross horsepower starting with the 425-375 engine. I would say that this is very close to what a W-33 or the W-34 would produce in terms of gross horsepower.

Keep in mind that a 1970 442 with the automatic cam and no cold air induction put out considerably less than the W-30 versions with the 285-287 cam. Manual 442 engines used a much hotter cam rated at 294-296 degrees duration and .472 lift.

Here is another point of view. In 71, the first year of GM and the industry net horsepower ratings, the W-30 was listed at 300. Automatic cam 442’s would be at least 15-20 horsepower less. Remember that the auto was two steps below the W-30 in camshaft specs. Take away a few hp for the loss of the center divider exhaust manifolds and the exhaust heat crossover block-off provision on the (exclusive) W-30 and you get even less. We also have to consider the effect of under hood cold air induction verses the hood scoop boundary layer bleed off designs. I would say that the advantage goes to the hood scoop design. Differences could mean as much as 5-10 horsepower. Let’s say 5? Then, some of our readers have said that their individual W-33’s did not come with any cold air induction. It may well be that way, but, everyone I ever seen had the OAI setup. Who can say given production variance and practice.

Let’s be fair (some might say overly generous) and say 280 net horsepower for an automatic equipped non W-30 4-4-2 in 1971. Now factor in something for the high compression (loss) between the engines of 1970 and 1971. Add another generally (accepted factor) of 4 % for each compression point and you have another possible 7-8 % horsepower gain. W-33’s were listed as having 10.25.1 and the 1971 4-4-2 had a theoretical ratio of 8.5.1.

It is also commonly accepted that most every engine came off the line with much less compression as quoted (and thus horsepower) since you have a wide variance in tolerances and assembly line procedure at the factory. In theoretical terms, you might come close to the advertised specs of an engine if you were very, very lucky; most people will have to blueprint theirs.

So you can round off the figures to about 300 net horsepower. Calculate a maximum of 25 % on top of that for the difference in gross horsepower and you get around 375 ponies. That would be for a virtually blueprinted engine using the old gross and net ratings.

In modern terms, that 300 net / 375 gross figure would be much less because of tighter ambient temperatures and dyno facility formulas derived in the later 1990’s. Net ratings in themselves would fall about 4-6 % compared to post 1971-72 given these more stringent procedures. Many dyno operators quote 20-25 % differences between net and gross readings like that on a dynojet. So, I will still say that the W-33 would probably be rated around 275-280 net horsepower using up to date formulas just like the new cars coming down the assembly line.

Using the well-established cube-root relationship between total vehicle weight (including the driver) and the quarter mile speed in mph is a fairly accurate way to determine gross and net horsepower ratings. Both Tom and Perry had 98 mph trap speeds. Perry said his car weighted in at 4200 lbs. My uncle says that his weighted about the same. I personally think that they weighted a little more. Say 4350?

With 98 mph trap speeds and 4350 pounds total car-driver weight the Roger Huntington derived formula I use predicts 316 net horsepower. Some people believe that this is a little optimistic and prefer using Patrick Hales formula that is based upon Huntington’s. Either way, the difference is something like 2-3 % less.
You can add 20-25 % unto the net figures and come up with whatever gross figures you like. I prefer to factor in 20 % and derive gross hp. You can google these formulas and derive your own estimates.

Here is more fuel to the flame…
This is a reprint of a March 1970 Car and Driver article covering The 1970 Oldsmobile Delta Royale with B07 Package.

TAUsays:

June 20, 2013 2:17 pm

terrysays:

June 20, 2013 7:35 pm

For the purposes of my discussion I only used the code W-33 in reference to the 455-390 hp engine so as not to confuse the issue with various option codes. They all pertain to the exact same engine. Specs are the same.

FYI, I am perfectly aware of the L-32 and the B07 options in 1968-1969. I am also aware that certain owners of original L-32, and W-33 cars were purchased without the B07 Police Apprehender Package. More controversy ot ponder…

Perrysays:

May 12, 2013 4:24 pm

Terry, you never actually owed any W33 Delta, I on the other hand I did and drove one every single day as that was normal because these cars were less than ten years old. It was just a car then nothing more. My W-33 was original with a switch pitch, 2.5 in tail pipes and would go well past 145 mph. It did all I stated, previously with ease. believe it or not. Im a racer and a long time owner of all kinds of american muscle cars and this car was the most jaw dropping of all

Now as for your information on the capabilities of these 88’S your not up to speed. I never ever lost a drag race on the street with this car, I would be taken out of the hole from the start 1 – 2 cars most of the time but at 30 mph this delta would squat down in the rear, the nose would lift to the limits of the susp travel and catch and pass my competition by 1-3 cars all the time every time. The biggest problem we all had on the street was traction and so with the right techique and a tail heavy car and 2 pax in the back seat the Olds would hook up quite well.

Just to mention a few of the losers
1969 Chevelle SS 396 / 375 hp auto
1969 Mach 1 428 CJ 4 speed
1968 Dart 340 4 speed
1970 Delta 88 455 / 365 hp he lost from the get go and got beat by 7 cars
1970 GTX 440 / 375 hp auto
1955 Belair 454 LS6 450 HP 4 speed
1969 442 400 ci 4 speed
just too name a few
and this is true and it all happened on street tires during some street race on a friday night. You should of been there

terrysays:

May 13, 2013 2:38 pm

Now listen to this; very first time I ever drove in a W-34 Toro (virtually same engine in a heavier car) was in early spring 1969. That was in a 1968 Peruvian Silver – black interior w bucket seat model. It was brand new. Car was owned by a neighbour. He still owns that Toro. Less than a year later, my uncle purchased a 1970 Olds Delta Royale W-33 455 brand new in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. He owned it until early 1975, and then sold it to his eldest son, who owned it in turn, until late 1976. He totaled the car at 135 mph top end and survived the crash. That engine was then taken out of that car and everything save the block was installed in another first cousins’ 1971 Buick Century. Another cousin still owns the heads and the original block. I thus both rode in and later drove that 70 on several occasions in 1976. It was still dead stock. It was taken to Cayuga and it did a legit 15.06 @96 mph. Several different drivers were there and tried their hand, including two regulars and they could not break 14.99. With a re-jetted carb, and a re-calibrated ignition, it very well may have done so, but not in that as stock as delivered condition. In the next five years, I drove in all of the stated vehicles listed in previous replies and not one ever broke into the 14-second bracket stock. None of them ever went over 140 mph. All of the owners stated that fact many times. Discussions abounded on the subject. I both rode in and drove some of those cars stock and modified. They were all very nice fast cars and I still admire them. In summary, I believe that I have a lot of experience with these types of cars. After all, I have witnessed their prowess since 1969. You may have taken your car under 15-secs; those are excellent times, but, understand that not every car is the same, and I don’t believe that it was the norm for these cars. With better traction and later Seventies, or even (then) current Polyglass 60, or 70 series tires of the day, I imagine that a good driver could dip into the high 14’s. One more thing; I know all about the capabilities of the W-cars because I have been in several of them when they were brand new babies right off the assembly lines in the later Sixties and the early Seventies.

I drove and rode in so many non-W-30’s of every year and model it’s laughable. I also vividly recall my uncle driving the big Olds Delta W-33 and beating his brother’s 71 429 CJ auto Torino GT on several times throughout the early 1970’s. Reason; uncle Cecil was a bad street racer; he liked to smoke his stock F70-14 Goodyear tires excessively for at least 100 feet each race. In fact, my father’s 69 351W-2V Mustang would leave the Torino (with Cecil at the wheel) every time, up to about 40 mph, until that Torino got moving. One day, tired of watching the Torino lose to the Mustang, uncle Len got in Uncle Cecil’s Torino and left my father flat from the line five times out of seven, until dad admitted defeat. Uncle Len also would grudgingly admit that Cec’s Torino was indeed faster than his W-33. Until that day, he firmly believed that the Torino was slower. Both cars would be hitting 130-135 on the infamous (10-mile) Sturgeon Straight between North Bay, and Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, Canada. These vaunted full-size 1968-1970 W-machines were not the quarter horses that some might believe. I don’t recall ever seeing or hearing about any such glory in any sanctioned competition in any class. If anyone has any info regarding such feats please post the results. I would like to see it. Just sayin’!

Perrysays:

May 13, 2013 3:14 pm

terrysays:

May 13, 2013 8:48 pm

I am sorry, Perry. I do not mean to sound unimpressed. I am just saying that none of those cars done better than very low 15s here in Canada. Perhaps it’s elevation and weather; I don’t know. I do know the poential of the big Olds becuase I had a friend with one that really moved. it was Viking Blue with white interior. Cragar S/S wheels, buckets, and console. Very striking combination. This same W-33 eventually motored unto high 13’s at Cuyaga in early ’77. I drove it many times and street raced with the owner in East End, Toronto, Ontario. It was a real sleeper but not after all of the mods. people became aware of it and word got around…LOL! Biggest problem I have is beleiveing that these monsters went anywhere near 145-150 mph. I know that the potential for 140 was there, perhaps a little more…but 150 and over takes alot of balls, aero, and road space…LOL!

terrysays:

May 15, 2013 11:54 am

Perry, I am sorry. I am not familar with that part of the country. In the late Seventies, I used to make the trip past Montreal into the South-East towns of Magog, Beebe, ans Aires Cliff, where my late step-fathers family was born and raised. I have not been back since 1980.

If I had the money, I would like to puirchase thirty or more old and new musclecars with the big Olds being but one. I also like the big Pontiac, Buick, Mercs, Ford, and Mopar stuff. If fantasy was valid, I would like a 1968-69 W-anything FWD 4-4-2. A 350 FWD W-31 would be nice also. I will take mine with the optional Toro slot wheels, painted in the 68 Hurst-Olds scheme, or Aztec Gold. Thank you. With a modern Buick 3800 supercharged V-6 like my current 98 Buick GS it would be better still on gas and a real sleeper…about 325 net horsepower should do just fine. With that I should be in really good company with any original W-30. LOL!

Terrysays:

March 24, 2015 10:16 pm

Full-size Olds models were surprising performers with the high horsepower big blocks installed. My hands-down favorite model is the 69 Delta 88s. I do like the 65-68s also. They all have something different to offer…

If I had my choice, I would like to own a 1968 Cutlass with the FWD Toro setup just like the factory experimental test car. Very different but still feasible today. Mine would be powered by the supercharged Series II or III Buick V-6 and appropriately modified to handle 325 – 350 net horsepower. I would hook it all up to a 5-spd. auto and 3.42.1 pos. I think Aztec Gold or Peruvian Silver paint would set it all off handsomely.

Sell me a reasonably priced 68 Cutlass in good shape and I will pass on the FWD concept and stay true to my school. I still like the idea of the Buick V6 drivetrain if the installed engine in my prospect car wasn’t up to snuff.

Dickeysays:

July 2, 2015 9:03 pm

My sister had a ’70 W33 gold Olds Delta 88 when I was 16. She used to let me borrow it -MISTAKE!. The torque of that monster engine was amazing. I would stomp it running about 30MPH and the duals under the car would thunder and make the floorboards rattle and the tires would bark when it dropped down a gear. It had the 455 HIGHWAY PATROL sticker on the air breather. Dad had a ’70 Olds 98 with the 360 horse version and it was no pushover. They had some friends with a 70 SS Monte Carlo 454 that tried to pass them but they pulled away easily with 4 passengers in the car.

Terrysays:

July 5, 2015 1:00 pm

My Uncle Len’s W-33 455 Delta 88 Custom won two out of three against a 1971 LS-6 Monte Carlo SS454 back in the early seventies, when both cars were new.

Monte apparently had very high gears which did not give it any clear-cut advantage up to speeds of say 95-100 mph. After that the mighty LS-6 began to really turn on and crank. I believe that this particular SS454 used 2.73.1 gears.

Remember that the 71s low compression (9.0.1) engine was a factor. They were not tuned nearly as well as the previous 1970 high compression LS-6 versions.

Driver competence certainly plays a part. Nonetheless, those big 455s could surprisingly move out and leave many unsuspecting muscle cars drivers in their day.

Susansays:

January 8, 2016 9:53 am

I’m agreeing with Perry all the way. In the 80’s and 90’s I had TWO 1970 Delta Royales, both with stock 455 Rocket, 2bbl, but the daily driver/racer I modified to dual exhaust, 2-1/2″ pipes. I could not begin to tell you all the muscle I left behind with that car and it wasn’t the 4bbl! I had so much fun with that car every day, anyone wanted to race I was down for it because I knew I could take them. Although I never raced anything blown, never had the offer and I’m sure my car would have lost at the line. I hung out with many gear heads with lots of horsepower in that group, and we were at Great Lakes Dragaway a lot as well, so I know the place. Took my beast down that track only twice but was high 14’s both times AND as far as not hitting 140, oh no no no! I took MANY trips on back highways here in Wisconsin and cruised easily at 120-130 mph after “opening it up” to at least 140 to “clean out the carb”. That Delta with the 455 Rocket was my favorite ride and I wish I still had it. I bought it in 1983 from a “motor for sale” posting by the original owners son, at Borchardt’s Speed Shop in Milwaukee. It had front end damage but was driveable and came with his original sale/order papers, too! I sold it in 2005 to one of those gear head friends who wanted the motor as a spare for his ’69 Cutlass 442 that already had a 455 in it. Too much underneath needed repair/work to keep it. The last Wisconsin winter I drove it in hit it hard. But sorry if anyone doubts what those of us that actually owned these awesome beasts are saying. You missed out on a great car, a fun car, I did’t!

August 27, 2016 4:17 pm

Ron psays:

October 26, 2016 6:13 pm

Terrysays:

October 27, 2016 12:23 pm

Ron p; According to all of my Olds brochures, ads, etc., the 390 hp engine was not available in the big 98s. I never heard of such an option and certainly never seen any L-32, W-33, W-34 engines installed in the 98. B-O7 (Police Option) was not available.

However, the big Ninety-Eight Olds was no slouch. With the 455 – 365 hp 4-barrel engine it had enough low-end torque to pull away from many unsuspecting street poser of the day. Acceleration was impressive. IMO these cars were at their best on the open highway. WOT in the 50-90 mph region was tremendous. That’s where they shine.